Pointless Senate Inquiry needs to stop: Fraser

22 August 2007

Pointless Senate Inquiry needs to stop: Fraser

The Senate Inquiry touring Queensland at taxpayers’ expense investigating John Howard’s local government intervention needs to pack up and go home now that the Beattie Government has moved in Parliament to remove prohibitions against council polls.

Local Government and Planning Minister Andrew Fraser introduced into Parliament this afternoon a Bill to remove the provisions preventing councils from undertaking polls on local government reform – rendering the Senate Inquiry utterly pointless.

“The Inquiry’s primary focus in Queensland is to examine proposed federal laws regarding polls about council amalgamations,” Mr Fraser said.

“Now that the provisions have been introduced into the Parliament, this inquiry which is travelling about the state irresponsibly wasting public funds should cease immediately.

“It’s a politically motivated stunt that will achieve nothing.

“The State Government will not take action against councils which conduct polls, but similarly the results of any polls will not change the boundaries.

“The amalgamations are now law and are going ahead.”

Mr Fraser said the removal of the penalties today was consistent with the government’s position of getting on with the job of council reform.

“We said on the weekend that we were not going to move against Councils, we were going to move on.

“We accept the community’s view about the prohibition and we accept that we got it wrong.

“The greater majority of Queensland councils are also getting on with the job and making reform happen.

“They recognise the laws have been passed, the boundaries are in place and they are looking to the future.”

Media Contact Chris Taylor 3227 8825